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5/16/2014

The Flying Pig

Almost two weeks ago now was Cincinnati's annual Flying Pig marathon and half marathon. There's also a bunch of other races associated with the Flying Pig like relays, a 5K, a 10K, and even a 2-mile run called the "Flying Fur" where you can run with your dog and for each participant Iams donates a bag of food to the SPCA. I've only been to the Flying Pig once before...4 years (!) ago when my brother-in-law ran the full marathon and my sis and our friend, Helene, ran the half. Well, this year Helene was running the half marathon again so Michelle and I couldn't pass up the chance to go down and root her on!

We got up bright and early before the sun and headed over to Silverton Donuts really quick...you know, to carb-o-load. For our cheering! Cheering is hard work people!! Anyway, for our first cheering point we headed down to Newport, right around mile marker one.

Michelle's adorable sign that she made for Helene.

Mmm, Silverton Donuts. So good! [We were nice enough to try to finish our donuts before the runners came, so it wouldn't seem like we were torturing them!]

We stood around for a bit taking in the beautiful morning and then we finally spotted Helene! And she spotted us!

Look at her! She's running a half marathon ridiculously early in the morning and she looks amazing! I mean, look at the other people around her, they look like a person should look running a marathon. Helene, on the other hand, looks like everyday, beautiful Helene.

I'm pretty sure she's a superhero.

Love this building, I just wish it was still the public library.

For our next stop we headed over to DeSales Corner/Walnut Hills...

And there she is again, mile marker 7 and she's still crushing it and looking frickin' amazing!

High-fives!

Unfortunately, due to traffic craziness and Helene running too quickly (darn you, Helene!) we didn't make it downtown in time to see her finish. Two hours and 30 minutes...GO, HELENE!! But, I did take some pictures of these really cool art deco-y lights. So, at least there's that.

I'm so proud of Helene and I admire her determination and hard work so much! I have some more photos to share from that day. After the race Michelle and I went to Bellevue, KY and had a lovely brunch. I'll share those photos eventually though at this point I'm not sure when. This weekend my sister is graduating from Xavier University (!!!!) so the weekend will be full of celebrating and awesome. And then Antoine and I are heading to Hawaii to celebrate our 6 year anniversary of being together (!!). So yeah, I'm just a little busy! But I'll be in touch, I promise!

Cather Quote

“The earth was warm under me, and warm as I crumbled it through my fingers...I kept as still as I could. Nothing happened. I did not expect anything to happen. I was something that lay under the sun and felt it, like the pumpkins, and I did not want to be anything more. I was entirely happy. Perhaps we feel like that when we die and become a part of something entire, whether it is sun and air, or goodness and knowledge. At any rate, that is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep.” -Willa Cather, My Ántonia